He means well, but I ignore him, refocusing on Izzy. “Well?” I arch a brow.
“He’s not in a good place, Sadie, but he’s trying.” She takes my hands in hers. “He told me what he did.” Her eyes well up. “Are you okay?”
I swallow the lump in my throat. “I’m fine, honestly. It wasn’t him, and I’ve already forgiven him.”
Haydn curses, not even attempting to disguise it. I shoot him a warning look.
“I’m glad you were able to do that, for both your sakes.” She looks over at Ax again and smiles.
“Did he tell you I have my memories back?” She nods, giving me a brittle smile, and I understand. I reel her into my arms. “I’m glad I have them back. It wasn’t right that I couldn’t remember Blade. Now I know how important he was, not only to you, but to me and Ax, too.”
A strangled sob crawls up her throat, and I ease back. “I know you don’t want to talk about him, that it still hurts, but I’m here for you whenever you do.”
Haydn is looking at me strangely, but there’s no time to call him on it as the meeting finally gets underway.
The chairperson opens the session, addressing the member states and explaining the purpose of today’s meeting. News of Griselda’s and Dante’s demise is confirmed, and an uneasy feeling crawls over my skin as the auditorium erupts in rapturous applause. Though I’m glad both enemies have been dealt with, the boisterous greeting to the news settles like sour milk in my stomach. My eyes dart to Ax, his shoulders hunched over at the reaction, as Logan’s distress hits me through our connection.
This isn’t easy for either one of them despite the torment they suffered at the hands of their family.
Sounds of celebration surround me, and I can understand it to a point. Both Dante and Griselda were viewed as significant enemies, albeit in different ways, and neutralizing the threat they posed paves the way for the work of the U.P.C., but they were still living beings who are no more, and despite how they conducted themselves in public, it feels wrong to act so disrespectfully in the wake of their deaths.
I hang my head, shame mixing with confusion in my mind. I was the one who ended Griselda, but I don’t revel in that knowledge. I would much rather there had been a different solution. It’s only now I can fully appreciate Logan’s stance in relation to his brother. I thought I was indifferent to his death, but I was wrong. This doesn’t feel like justice or progress—it feels like vengeance, pure and simple.
The chairman appeals for silence and the crowd quiets down. Other matters are tabled and dealt with swiftly. A date is set for the execution of the other dissenters, and the commission agrees to the granting of a new planet for the Amaretti, requesting Dali to formulize a relocation plan and submit same for approval. The new King Coryn stands, paying short tribute to his brother and inviting all member states to the official state ceremonial burial.
Then Logan and Dali present their proposal regarding Earth, and my fingers dig into the arm of the chair as heated debate kicks off.
“Getting involved in matters outside of Narik got my brother killed. I’m committed to the U.P.C. and what we are trying to achieve here, but my focus is internal. Our planet is in mourning, and I need to look after my people,” the new King Coryn confirms, turning to face Logan. “I am sorry, Your Highness, but Narik cannot provide technical support to fight someone else’s battle.”
“With the greatest respect, this is our battle,” Dali speaks up. “The Amaretti are members of this commission, and some of my people are trapped on Earth without any knowledge of the alternative options or of what’s transpired in the galaxy while they’ve been gone. They are as enslaved as the humans are. Are we not deserving of your support?”
The king levels an unpleasant look at her. “The loyalty of the Amaretti on Earth is questionable at best.”
Before Dali can speak up, the chairman interjects. “And they are a minority. The Commission is focused on effecting positive change for the masses. We will need to deal with this situation at some point, but it isn’t a priority right now.”
“A small contingent would be enough of a threat to force the Amara king to surrender,” Logan suggests. “That’s all we are asking for, and we believe we could curtail the casualties and end this before it becomes a bloody battle. The humans have been terrorized for long enough. We owe it to them to step in.”
“We owe it to them?” A petite lady with blue hair, sitting beside Dali, cuts in, sounding incredulous as she eyeballs Logan. “We don’t owe them anything. We all know where your loyalties lie, King Logan, but don’t expect the other member states to support that view. It’s nothing to do with us, and we have enough pressing concerns to manage without additional, unnecessary complications.”
Logan’s frustration flows down the line, but when he responds, he is respectful and controlled. “This is more than the fact that my Eterno is part human.”
A few shocked gasps echo around the chamber, and several curious faces swivel in my direction. It’s no surprise that everyone isn’t fully aware of our situation. The galaxy is far-reaching, and a lot of the outer lying planets are independent and largely ignorant of what’s been going on around them.
“I spent many months on Earth, and my father’s interference set them on a path that has seen them bear more than their fair share of suffering and pain,” Logan continues, addressing the crowd at large. “We have meddled in their affairs, and now the threat of full alien invasion looms over them constantly, and we need to do what is right. To help rectify the wrong and repair the damage.”
“If that is the truth, then this is a Saven mess,” the blue-haired lady replies. “And it is up to the Saven and the Amaretti to fix their own problems.”
“This is a total waste of time.” Logan is fuming.
“I thought the purpose of this commission was to coordinate our efforts, to support one another, and ultimately to agree to a treaty which will deliver lasting peace in the galaxy. Is that no longer the case?” Dali’s tone is harsh and unforgiving.
“I respectfully ask the honorable acting queen of Amara to refrain from inciting the commission,” the chairman says, piercing Dali with a reproving expression. “That is the stated purpose of this commission and what we are working toward. You are asking us to progress action that is non-priority because of personal motivations, not motivations that serve the best interests of the member states at large. You have two choices. We will not stop you and King Logan if you wish to deploy an immediate initiative to restore peace to Earth, but if you do so, you do it without any backup from the commission. Or you can choose to wait until such a time as the situation becomes a priority and then together we will agree on the best course of action. If any member state has any objection to either proposal, please confirm same now.”
My eyes scan the room as people submit their votes and I already know it’s a lost cause before the results are announced.
Guess we’re going it alone.
CHAPTER 14
Logan’s exasperation and resignation matches my own, but it’s not as if we weren’t prepared for this.
When the meeting is over, we converge in the far corner of the room. I grasp his hands in mine. “You did your best, and we always knew this was a long shot.”
“I was still hoping we could convince them.” He pinches the bridge of his nose in an obvious tell.
“Screw the lot of them,” Dali says, borrowing my words, and I smother my chuckle. “We’ll sort it ourselves. You’re confident the humans will help?”
“They won’t have a choice. We can’t win this without them,” I say, crossing my arms defiantly over my chest. “When should we leave for Earth? Have you made any solid arrangements with Jarod?” I ask Logan.
“Yeah. We’ll leave early tomorrow. He’s already sent the rendezvous details. We’re going to hook up with Vin and some of his gang first, and then we’ll travel together to meet the president and his cabinet.”
“Good.” While I know the reali
ty of what lies in wait is beyond grim, I can’t help feeling excited. I’ve missed my friends, and I’m itching to kick some evil alien butt, big time. “Should we ask Ax for help?” I suggest, knowing this is like waving a red flag in Logan’s face.
“Over my dead body will I ask that asshole for help.”
Haydn quirks a brow, and I stare at him, mouthing “what?” It’s not as if his reaction is in any way unpredictable. “Ask Logan,” Haydn says in my mind. “I’m not getting caught in the crossfire.”
Before I can question my husband, Ax appears in my line of sight, approaching from behind Logan. Logan whips his head around, growling when he spots him. Ax steps forward, tucking his hands in his pockets as he rocks back on his heels. “We need to talk.”
“I’ve nothing to say to you.” Logan sounds like ice and unforgiveness.
“Well, I’ve stuff I need you to hear.”
“I’m not in the mood for listening.”
I squeeze Logan’s hand, beseeching him to back down. “What’s so important, Ax?”
“I think I might know who’s behind the bounty on your head.” He looks off to the side, averting his eyes, unable to maintain contact. “Can we please go somewhere private to speak?”
“Fine,” Logan snaps, unwilling to allow his grievance to outweigh his need to protect me.
Haydn leads us to a small, private meeting room off one side of the corridor, and we all pile in. Izzy walks to Ax’s side as Logan slings an arm across my shoulders, reeling me into his side. I’m not surprised to see his caveman alter-ego make a reappearance, especially when it comes to Ax.
“Can you help us fight the Amaretti on Earth? Can you provide some troops?” I ask quickly, knowing full well that when we touch on the other subject it’ll turn argumentative in seconds.
“We don’t need his help.” Logan slants a fierce look at Ax.
“Don’t be stupid, Logan,” Dali pipes up. “We need all the help we can get.”
Ax looks apologetic. “I’d love to help, but I can’t.” Logan harrumphs, shaking his head. “Things are tenuous on Torc, and my position isn’t secure yet. If I proposed this, the council would shut me down instantly. I’ll need time to bring them around, to convince the populace.”
“Good luck with that,” Logan snarls under his breath, and it takes considerable effort not to roll my eyes.
Ax ignores him, his eyes finally meeting mine as he continues. “I could order the soldiers and assassins to help, but they’d only mutiny.”
“I get it. They despise me, and helping the humans is akin to helping me. Forget I asked.”
“I’m sorry, I wish I could do more.”
Logan barks out a laugh, and stress cords my shoulders into knots. Trying to have a conversation with these two is a bit like wrestling with a crocodile and a lion, blindfolded with my arms tied behind my back.
“Moving on.” I send Logan a loaded look. “How do you know about the bounty hunter, and what intel can you share?”
Ax’s chin jerks up, his eyes seeking Logan’s. “You didn’t tell her?”
Logan doesn’t respond, and everyone senses the conflict in the air.
I look up at him. “Tell me.”
But it’s Ax who replies. “Logan contacted me when you were taken at the palace and asked me to locate you via the tracking chip in your neck.”
My brows lift in surprise. “It changes nothing,” Logan tells me, glaring at Ax through narrowed eyes. “It was a desperate situation, and it called for desperate measures. That’s all. Don’t read anything else into it.”
Ax looks down at his feet, and I sigh deeply. Maybe I was wrong. Perhaps it is too late for them. Perhaps there is far too much animosity lying between them to ever form a brotherly bond. My heart aches for them and for the part I’ve unwittingly played in bringing us all to this point.
I clear my throat. “So, who do you think is behind it?”
Ax’s face contorts unpleasantly. “Horace Tonnard.”
An icy hand massages my heart, tightening and restricting the blood flow. Any mention of our eminent VP always invokes a similar reaction. I rub at the aching spot on my chest. Logan looks contemplative as he lifts our conjoined hands, placing a delicate kiss on my skin.
Ax looks like he wants to vomit, and I need to move this conversation along before it deteriorates even further. “Spit it out, Ax. What do you know?”
He takes a step toward me, and Logan growls. Seriously growls. For real.
Shuffling of feet at my rear reminds me that we have an audience, but right now I couldn’t care less. I want to know what the VP has done and how Ax has come across this information.
“Look,” he says, dragging a hand through his hair. “Can we sit down and lose the audience.”
“No.” Logan is quick to respond.
I shuck out from under his arm and turn to our friends. “Would you mind giving us some privacy, please.” Dali nods before leading everyone outside. Haydn glances over his shoulder on the way out, glaring at Ax one final time. Izzy makes a move to leave, but I stop her with a shake of my head. “Stay, please.” When the door shuts, Ax visibly relaxes, claiming a seat at the table. Izzy slides into the spot beside him, and we sit down across from them.
“Let’s hear it, asshole,” Logan says, leaning his elbows on the table.
“Logan, please.” The strain in my voice is evident. “Go on,” I urge Ax, giving him a tentative smile. Logan’s rage is thundering through me, and I shut off the connection, not able to deal with it right now.
“When I returned to Torc from Earth, the VP was there. Mother had given him asylum when he had to flee.”
A vivid image floats through my mind. “Oh crap.” I sit up straighter in my chair, wondering how the hell I didn’t make the connection before. All eyes lock on me. “She came to his office one time. I’d forgotten all about it until now.” I slam my palm into my forehead. “I’m such an idiot! That’s where he was the whole time!” I jump up out of my seat as another thought occurs to me. I race to Ax’s side, gripping his shoulders. “Was he there when I was?”
“I think so,” he whispers.
“You think so?” Logan snaps.
“I don’t know how long he’d been there, and Mother wouldn’t talk about him. I didn’t even know where in HQ he was staying, but I think it’s conceivable that he might’ve been there the first time you returned to Tor.” Tentatively, he reaches up to remove my hands. I wasn’t aware my nails were digging into his flesh.
“Take your fucking hands off her!” Logan is on his feet in a flash, charging toward us, seething and primed to explode.
I rush at him, trying to push him back. “Stop it! Chill out!” His fists are clenched into tight balls of fury at his sides and he needs no incentive to pummel Ax into next week. I wrap my arms around his waist, squeezing tight. “Please, Logan. Don’t fight him.”
Pulling me close, he kisses the top of my head, and his body trembles underneath me. I run my hands up and down his back, and gradually his anger settles. I release the breath I’d been holding. “Continue, Ax,” I say, as I pull Logan back over to his seat.
Izzy’s hand rests in his on top of the table, and she’s whispering urgently in his ear.
“I suspected he was on Torc when Jarod and Rylan showed me that message he sent. I recognized the code.”
Disappointment waylays me. “Another lie, Ax? You promised you told me everything.”
His Adam’s apple bobs in his throat as he looks pleadingly at me. “And I thought I had. I swear. I forgot about that one.”
“I guess it’s hard to keep track of all the lies when you tell so many of them,” Logan snipes, and I drop my forehead to the table, covering the back of my head with my hands.
I’d rather sign up for a lobotomy than sit in a room with Logan and Ax.
“I’m sorry that I’m not sorry.” Logan plants a hand on my back. “I know this is upsetting you, but I’m too mad to pretend as if nothing’s happened.
I can’t forget how he hurt you. He tried to force himself on you, Sadie, and I’ll never be okay with that.”
“Fine,” I snap, hating myself for it instantly. “Then leave, because he has important information, and we don’t have all damn day!”
The chair screeches as Logan slams it back. It crashes to the ground with a thud as he stalks out of the room without a backward glance. When I look around, Ax has his head in his hands, and Izzy has her arm wrapped around his waist.
“Can you please tell me what else you know so that we can leave. I’m so done with this.”
“I’m truly sorry, Sadie.” Ax’s eyes are glistening with unshed tears.
“I know you are, but I can’t discuss it anymore, so please just say what you came here to say.”
He hurriedly composes himself, looking to Izzy for reassurance. She gives him an encouraging nod. “Mother wouldn’t tell me anything when she was alive but I’ve been investigating the last couple of days and it’s a hell of a lot worse than I thought.”
Goose bumps sprout up and down my arms. “Lay it on me.”
“He was her Plan B, in case you failed.”
All the blood drains from my face. “What? Are you saying that he … that I … that …” My thoughts are careening all over the place.
“She abducted him too, Sadie. The VP is like you. He’s part human, part alien.”
CHAPTER 15
Horror roils in my gut, and I clamp a hand over my mouth, forcing the rising nausea back down my throat. I can scarcely hear Ax speaking over the noise in my ears and the fluttery sensation pressing down on my chest. Ax kneels in front of me, not touching me even though I know he longs to comfort me. Logan chooses that exact moment to come storming back into the room, racing to my side as he picks up on my inner turmoil.
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